Steelers' Patrick Queen Gives Update on New Contract Talks

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen is entering a contract season, something that could benefit both sides. Only 26 years old, there's a real expectation that Queen is going to continue being one of the better linebackers in the NFL. 

After landing a deal with the Steelers after playing for the Baltimore Ravens for the first four seasons of his career, he's definitely done what's needed on the defensive side of the football. The question now for the Steelers is whether they want to give him the money that he clearly deserves.

Contract situations typically aren't as easy as just giving a player money because of how good they are. With the Steelers being in somewhat of a weird transition at the moment, they have to be careful about paying guys who might not necessarily be needed on this roster.

I believe the Steelers should pay a very good linebacker like him the kind of money he's seeking, but that doesn't mean Pittsburgh is going to do it. Speaking to reporters recently about how contract talks have gone, it doesn't sound like anything has started on that front, and that's rather disappointing to hear.

"It was talks here and there, but nothing crazy... no movement either way," Queen said, per Jack Markowski. "At the end of the day they've got business to handle, and my business is to go out there and play the best football I can. Put myself in a good position, put our team in a good position so that we can both be successful."

"I've got a good amount of money coming in this year, so at the end of the day I could care less," Queen said. "If they do want to extend, cool. If not, cool. Like I said, at the end of the day it's a business. I got my business to handle, they've got theirs to handle. The better I play, the better we're both going to be, so at the end of the day, that's all I care about."

The Steelers might very well just be waiting this thing out and hoping that they show their true colors this year.

If Pittsburgh were to come out and be one of the better teams in the AFC, competing not only for a playoff spot, but a chance to win in the postseason, there's a very good chance it would give Queen the type of money because it would believe it has a chance to win in the future. If the Steelers come out and struggle, there's an even better chance that they're going to allow him to walk or look to move him in the middle of the year at the trade deadline.